Hi all,
Glad I finally sparked something on Museum-L, at any rate, the letter
writing was a bit tongue in cheek, I am sure the staff in Oprah world
care less about our professional opinion, and her 'fans' have already
raised a bit of a ruckus on her own web site
http://www.oprah.com/community/thread/15265
However others have been interested in our professional opinion. I have
been asked by two family members and several colleagues (I am a museum
guy working in a library, so they come to me with museum questions)
about the incident. Sample questions: how did this happen? Why the the
Smithsonian let it happen?, Does Oprah have to pay for damages? etc.
So while I agree that none of us were flies on the wall, none of us can
accurately judge the preparations of the NMAH and their staff since we
weren't there, and none of us know what exactly Oprah was thinking, that
does not change the fact that many of us will be asked to respond. I
guess I was hoping to get the pulse of the profession about a VERY
public incident. I think the responses have been interesting and varied,
leaning towards preparing those who are going to interact with our
collections in such a way as to not put the items at risk. My response
to family and colleagues would be thus: "Hopefully the Smithsonian was
able to prepare Oprah for the delicate nature of the materials she was
about to view, however many people, when given the opportunity to come
in direct contact with such cultural touchstones let their excitement
overwhelm them. I am sure the folks at the NMAH will evaluate the event
and see if all was done to safeguard the artifacts."
Thank goodness it was Dr. Glass and the Ruby Slippers, not Jack Hanna
and a Tiger!
Kevin
Pete Lundskow wrote:
> An interesting side note to this is the slippers may or may not have been
> worn by Judy Garland. In the link mentioned in the first posting on this
> subject there is mention of a book by Rhys Thomas "The Ruby slippers of Oz".
> In this book there is a note that states there is no actually proof that she
> did ware the Smithsonian pair. The question being does the Smithsonian have
> the documentation to prove she wore this pair? If not this brings up the
> other issue that often comes up in our profession about claiming things that
> are not so, the "George Washington Slept Here" syndrome.
> My two cents on the issue is I agree with an earlier comment about having
> them in a sealed Plexiglas box could have avoided the whole issue.
>
> Peter Lundskow
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of Deb Fuller
> Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 12:48 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] The Ruby Slipper incident
>
> On Jan 24, 2008 2:20 PM, Karen Eckhaus <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> My take on it...
>>
>> After the care taken to transport them, being told what delicate shape
>> they're in and being asked to put on curatorial gloves, Oprah SHOULD have
>> had the sense to know that they shouldn't be flung around!
>>
>
> EXACTLY!!
>
> A quotation from the transcript of the show:
>
>
> Oprah Winfrey: "Can I touch them? Am I allowed to touch them?"
>
> Dr. Glass: "No, you're not allowed to touch them. But if you, you uh-"
>
> Oprah Winfrey: "So glad I asked. I saw everyone with gloves on - you
> have to touch them with gloves on, right?"
>
> [Oprah picks up gloves]
>
> Dr. Glass: "Uh, well, yeah, I don't even touch them with gloves on.
> but, well, uh-"
>
> Oprah Winfrey: "I just want to touch them."
>
> ---------------------------
> Oprah is being a bossy celebrity and using her media skills to
> bulldoze over a curator who is out of his league. I'm sure he was
> nervous being on national TV next to a big star and tried to steer her
> away from touching them as best as he could. But geez woman, if the
> curator who flew the objects to your studio in a special box with
> armed guards says "No," ya think he has a reason?
>
> I think in situations like this, museums should have speciality
> trained "media curators" who have experience speaking on camera and
> dealing with celebrities. It takes a special skill to tactfully put
> your foot down when it comes to handling your objects as well as the
> ability to think on your feet and disarm celebrities who want to touch
> objects or play around with them while on the air. They also need the
> authority to say "I'm sorry but you either broke our conditions or did
> not meet them for having our objects on your show and therefore we
> will not allow you show them on the air." You also need a good PR
> department to spin that in your favor.
>
> No media coverage is worth endangering or damaging priceless objects
> nor should curators have to put up with media celebs who think they
> can play around with national treasures just because they have gloves
> on. I didn't have much respect for Oprah before and I certainly don't
> have any respect for her now.
>
> Deb
>
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--
Kevin P. Schlesier
Exhibits and Outreach Librarian
Special Collections Research Center
North Carolina State University Libraries
2205 Hillsborough Street
Campus Box 7111
Raleigh, NC 27695-7111
919-513-8087 (phone)
[log in to unmask]
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